Apparently, a Dark Horse Candidate Wants to Coach the Vikings.
Dustin Baker
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So far, the Minnesota Vikings have interviewed [or will soon interview] Todd Bowles, Jonathan Gannon, Nathaniel Hackett, Kellen Moore, Raheem Morris, Kevin O’Connell, Dan Quinn, and DeMeco Ryans for their open head coach position. Other men like Brian Daboll, Eric Bieniemy, and Byron Leftwich could be up next after their respective teams lose in the playoffs or win the Super Bowl on February 13th.
Well, another guy wants the job – or is doing a marvelous job trolling – and that is former Vikings defensive end Jared Allen.
On one of the team’s social media accounts, Allen chimed in, stating his desire to audition for the team’s head coaching gig.
It is unclear if Allen is acting goofy or if he truly wants a crack at the head coaching gig – probably the former.
Allen spent six years in Minnesota, tallying 85.5 sacks after the Vikings traded a 1st-Round pick and two 3rd-Round picks to Kansas City in 2006 for the Chief. Kansas City used one of the picks to draft Jamaal Charles, who was magnificent in Kansas City’s offense for five seasons.
The former pass rusher, Allen, is also a Hall of Fame finalist in 2022.
What does Allen not have? Professional coaching experience. Usually, ex-players must rise through the ranks of coaching trees, manning jobs like positional coordinators before ascending to the head coaching level. That’s what tends to imply Allen is kidding around on social media on wanting to lead the 2022 Vikings.
He knows curling, though. After retiring from the Carolina Panthers in 2015, the 39-year-old Allen gained an interest in curling, hoping to parlay the hobby all the way to the Olympics. His master plan was thwarted a bit by the global coronavirus pandemic, but Allen and his teammates did compete in the 2021 United States Men’s Curling Championship. Allen’s team didn’t fare too well.
The Vikings completed the first wave of interviews for potential general managers on Thursday. The decision on the new boss could come any day if ownership is done chatting with suitors.
The new general manager will have hiring power for the new head coach, although the Vikings ownership already conducted several first interviews for many candidates.
But none of the discussions involved Jared Allen. And he’s playfully ticked about it.
Perhaps the new head coach can give Allen a phone call to discuss a defensive line coaching opportunity – an apropos spot for a fearsome EDGE rusher to start his coaching career.
On the NFL’s unofficial all-time sack leaderboard, Allen ranks 16th. For the “since 1982” variety frequently utilized by the NFL, Allen ranks 10th.
Allen joined our Bleav in Vikings podcast with Bryant McKinnie last February. You can listen to that here.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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